Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
This bill updates three provisions of the District of Columbia Official Code by replacing outdated, stigmatizing terms like "substantially retarded" and "mentally retarded" with person-first language "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities." The amendments are limited to specific jurisdictional references in Title 11 concerning District, Superior, and Family Court jurisdictional language. The bill appears to be a non-substantive, terminology-only change rather than a change to legal standards or procedures.
Liberals emphasize dignity and broader statutory cleanup
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward procedural housekeeping measure that clearly identifies and replaces specific archaic terminology in three District of Columbia code provisions; the amendments are precisely specified and proportional to the bill's narrow scope.
This bill updates three provisions of the District of Columbia Official Code by replacing outdated, stigmatizing terms like "substantially retarded" and "mentally retarded" with person-first language "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities." The amendments are limited to specific jurisdictional references in Title 11 concerning District, Superior, and Family Court jurisdictional language.
The bill appears to be a non-substantive, terminology-only change rather than a change to legal standards or procedures.
Content is narrow and unobjectionable, so policy barriers are low; procedural and scheduling factors are the main obstacles.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward procedural housekeeping measure that clearly identifies and replaces specific archaic terminology in three District of Columbia code provisions; the amendments are precisely specified and proportional to the bill's narrow scope.
Liberals emphasize dignity and broader statutory cleanup
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize dignity and broader statutory cleanup
Likely strongly supportive because the bill replaces derogatory, outdated language with respectful, person-first terminology.
Views this as consistent with disability rights and dignity, though notes it is largely symbolic.
May urge broader, systematic review of all statutes for similar language and stronger disability protections.
Generally supportive because it modernizes offensive language with minimal policy impact.
Sees it as low-cost, noncontroversial housekeeping.
Will look for assurances that wording changes do not unintentionally alter legal definitions or jurisdictional thresholds.
Mixed-to-mildly supportive in principle; removing offensive terms is reasonable.
Some may view the change as unnecessary political correctness or a low-priority use of legislative time.
Emphasis on ensuring no substantive legal changes and minimal administrative burden.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Content is narrow and unobjectionable, so policy barriers are low; procedural and scheduling factors are the main obstacles.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize dignity and broader statutory cleanup
Content is narrow and unobjectionable, so policy barriers are low; procedural and scheduling factors are the main obstacles.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward procedural housekeeping measure that clearly identifies and replaces specific archaic terminology in three District of Columbia code provisions;…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.